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USC professor of English, gender & sexuality studies, and American studies & ethnicity, and chair of the Department of Gender & Sexuality Studies Karen Tongson and NYU Assistant Professor of History Adrian De Leon join us to talk about their adoration of baseball and reality TV. Using their piece “Both Sides Now: On the 2025 World Series,” we discuss the affective and cultural dialogues sports media creates. Karen and Adrian draw from their own Filipino upbringings and fandom of the MLB to showcase the complexities between corporate actions, fan desires, and the influence of imperialism in athletics. We then relate the creation of narratives and societal reflections in sports to reality TV shows like The Amazing Race and Traitors. The conversation culminates in a description of how sports fandom and reality TV watchers are more strongly alike than others think. Karen and Adrian suggest that people both enjoy and be critical of sports and reality TV because they can assist with understanding the world around us. Or, they can help us laugh at social rules within romantic relationships or sports rituals. Here are some of the references from this episode, for those who want to dig a little deeper: Academic/Educational readings and resources: Both Sides Now: On the 2025 World SeriesThe Latinos of Asia: How Filipino Americans Break the Rules of RaceRelocations: Queer Suburban ImaginariesJournal of Popular Music StudiesThe Filipino National AnthemTender Labour Migrant Care Work, Filipina/o Young People, and Family Life across BordersGlenn Burke, 1st openly gay MLB player, is shunned no more — 40 years after coming out Convergence Culture: Where Old and New Media Collide People & Places: Fernando ValenzuelaAlejandro KirkVince CarterTracy McGradyEdwin EncarnaciónGlenn BurkeAndy PagesTyra BanksKristen KishYam Yam ArochoEric NamJoe HendryCody RhodesMartin Luther King Jr.Malcom XJackie RobinsonChavez RavineNatalia MolinaLebron JamesCaleb WilliamsAlysa LiuAmber GlennJalen HurtsAJ RafaelJeremy PassionGabe BondocJonathan LealMiguel RojasManny PacquiaoGeorge EliotHank AaronKendrick LamarDrake Kylie KelceJason KelceTravis KelceJohn CenaStone Cold Steve Austin Media: 2025 MLB World SeriesMLB NFLNBATraitors (US)The Traitors Official PodcastAmerican League Division SeriesThe Real Housewives franchise Bravo TVJoey Bautista's bat flipKawhi Leonard’s Iconic Buzzer-Beater vs 76ersAll-Star Baseball (Video game)Strat-O-MaticTop ChefYouTubeWikipediaSurvivorThe Amazing RaceThe Gaymazing Race2026 OlympicsAlysa Liu Gold MedalCAN vs USA Women’s HockeyUS vs CAN women’s hockey rivalryWWESmackdown (TV show)AEWInstagramTikTokHeated Rivalry See even more links for this episode on our website! For another perspective on reality television, check out our earlier episode with Diane Winston on Religion and Reality Television –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Share your thoughts via Twitter with Henry, Colin and the How Do You Like It So Far? account! You can also email us at howdoyoulikeitsofarpodcast@gmail.com. Music: “In Time” by Dylan Emmett and “Spaceship” by Lesion X. In Time (Instrumental) by Dylan Emmet https://soundcloud.com/dylanemmet Spaceship by Lesion X https://soundcloud.com/lesionxbeats Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0 Free Download / Stream: https://bit.ly/in-time-instrumental Free Download / Stream: https://bit.ly/lesion-x-spaceship Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/AzYoVrMLa1Q ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

University of Chicago Assistant Professor in the Department of Cinema and Media Studies, AE Stevenson and Rutgers University–New Brunswick, Assistant Professor of Journalism and Media Studies Brooklyne Gipson join us to talk about digital Black feminism online. We start our discussion with America’s relations with the platform TikTok, and how it is a large social media site for Black creators. We then explore how to define community and culture, especially for Black people online, in a world resistant to progress. Building from this, AE and Brooklyne discuss how certain communicative practices in the Black community focus on storytelling as a vehicle for critical thought rather than a lack of media literacy education. This leads to the larger topic of online discourse around the films Sinners and One Battle After Another. We end with dissecting how the recognition of, or lack thereof, Black culture affects people’s views of these films. Although they both feature Black actors, they interact with culture very differently. Ultimately, we push for an awareness of the multilayered discussions of media seen as progressive or discursive. They should think about what cultures and communities are being featured and how. Here are some of the references from this episode, for those who want to dig a little deeper: Academic/Educational readings and resources: Race After Technology: Abolitionist Tools for the New Jim CodeAlgorithms of Oppression Dark Matters: On the Surveillance of BlacknessRenegades: Digital Dance Cultures from Dubsmash to TikTokDigital Pleasure and Danger: A Roundtable DiscussionNiggas on the Internet: Scenes of a Black Social Lifeshort storyarticleThe Souls of Black FolkBlack Oscars: From Mammy to Minny, What the Academy Awards Tell Us about African Americans People & Places: Ruha BenjaminRyan CooglerTeyana TaylorSafiya NobleSimone BrowneJasmine CrockettCentinela Drive-InSteve JobsCharli D'AmelioLeonardo ChiariglioneToni Cade BambaraW. E. B. Du BoisDenzel WashingtonLupita Nyong'oMichael B. JordanNia DaCostawickdconfectionsLeonardo DiCaprioTimothée ChalametSam RaimiKevin SamuelsAndrew TateCandace OwensCharlie KirkErika KirkNicki MinajSteve BannonPaul Thomas AndersonMaya RudolphMinnie Riperton Media: Michael B. Jordan Wins Best Actor | 98th Oscars Speech (2026)SinnersOne Battle After AnotherTwister (1996)#OscarsSoWhite and The Legacy of Halle Berry Scream franchiseScream (1996)Scream 7 (2026)Scary Movie franchiseScary Movie (2026 film)Black Panther (2018)Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022)Bugonia (2025)Magnolia (1999)Punch-Drunk Love (2002)Inherent Vice (2014)Phantom Thread (2017)Licorise Pizza (2021)Moonlight (2016)James Bond seriesLive and Let Die (1973)Oregon Trail Lex Marie artworkA Thousand and One (2023)From Dusk Till Dawn (1996)The Jazz Singer (1980)TikTok finalizes deal to form new U.S. unit with major American investorsIs the new US TikTok safer?Candace Owens takes on Erika Kirk in 'The Bride of Charlie'Erika Kirk Accidentally Mixes Up 'Grift' Instead of 'Grit' in Awkward Moment at Turning Point USA EventVineTikTokYouTubeWickdconfections Black American recipe seriesExalted –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Share your thoughts via Twitter with Henry, Colin and the How Do You Like It So Far? account! You can also email us at howdoyoulikeitsofarpodcast@gmail.com. Music: “In Time” by Dylan Emmett and “Spaceship” by Lesion X. In Time (Instrumental) by Dylan Emmet https://soundcloud.com/dylanemmet Spaceship by Lesion X https://soundcloud.com/lesionxbeats Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0 Free Download / Stream: https://bit.ly/in-time-instrumental Free Download / Stream: https://bit.ly/lesion-x-spaceship Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/AzYoVrMLa1Q ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Showing her love of movies, Izzy from Be Kind Rewind chats with us about her process of creating video essays and connection to researching actresses in the Hollywood system. We discuss how her fannish love of TCM films turned into a passion for making videos and navigating complex topics often overlooked or simplified into gossip. Diving deeper into this, Izzy speaks about her recent video on actress Merle Oberon’s race as it relates to William Wyler’s Wuthering Heights (1939) and its latest adaption by Emerald Fennell. There we discuss how the construction of stardom and the text of a piece impact readings of race as a racialized work attempts to become de-racailized by directorial choices. Using her Vanessa Redgrave video, Izzy also talks to us about the Oscars,its relationship to politics, and how it impacts actresses. We end this longer epsiode with a hint of the future for Be Kind Rewind and our 2026 Oscar predictions. Afterwards, Samantha and Henry give their Oscar predictions in every category. This episode is filled with fun, fandom, and just a touch of Hollywood magic! We get into what passions drive a video essayist and the interesting topics that can happen about the film industry if we are not strictly going by salacious headlines. It is an episode that not only asks viewers to watch more films but, also challenges them to think about the wider implications of the moving image. Here are some of the references from this episode, for those who want to dig a little deeper: Some Suggested BKR Videos: Channel LinkChannel LinkMerle Oberon and the Whiteness of Wuthering HeightsWhy Vanessa Redgrave Gave the Most Controversial Oscar Speech EverHow Carrie Fisher Blurred Fact and Fiction Performing Authenticity: The Cinema of Lady GagaSofia Coppola and The Godfather Part III DisasterHow Michelle Yeoh Went from Bond Girl to Best Actress Oscar Winner in the American MediaThe Feud of Bette Davis and Joan Crawford | 1963: Pt. 2 Academic/Educational readings and resources: Black Oscars: From Mammy to Minny, What the Academy Awards Tell Us about African Americans Hardcover WMC Investigation 2026: Gender and Non-Acting Oscar Nominations - Full ReportWhy Analyze Inclusion at the Oscars?Hollywood Diversity ReportJSTORHollywood Babylon People & Places: Lindsay EllisPrincess WeekesEmerald FennellMerle OberonVanessa RedgraveLady GagaSophia CoppolaDiane KeatonRyan MurphyBetty DavisJoan CrawfordLaurence OlivierNicole KidmanVivien LeighAnna May WongHattie McDanielRock HudsonCole EscolaMichelle YeohTeyana TaylorWunmi MosakuJessie BuckleyJamie Lee CurtisChon A. NoriegaKarina LongworthLiza MinnelliJudy GarlandYoko OnoSamuel GoldwynWilliam WylerLana TurnerLupe Velez Media: TCMOscarsThe 98th Academy Awards Wuthering Heights (1939 film)Wuthering Heights (2026 film)What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?Did Yoko Break Up The Beatles? Sadly, Wuthering Heights Discourse Is That Deep1978 Oscars Vanessa Redgrave Win KanopyCriterion ChannelTubiLittle Gold Men podcastFilm Comment podcastPop Culture Happy Hour podcastFunny Girl (1968)Moulin Rouge! (2001)Bad CinderellaGone With The Wind (1939)It Happened One Night (1934)Sinners (2025)One Battle After Another (2025)Hamnet (2025)The Godfather Part III (1990)HollywoodFeud You might also enjoy our previous Oscar Themed episode and the Oscar Watch series Henry is currently running on his blog. –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Share your thoughts via Twitter with Henry, Colin and the How Do You Like It So Far? account! You can also email us at howdoyoulikeitsofarpodcast@gmail.com. Music: “In Time” by Dylan Emmett and “Spaceship” by Lesion X. In Time (Instrumental) by Dylan Emmet https://soundcloud.com/dylanemmet Spaceship by Lesion X https://soundcloud.com/lesionxbeats Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0 Free Download / Stream: https://bit.ly/in-time-instrumental Free Download / Stream: https://bit.ly/lesion-x-spaceship Music promoted by Audio Library...

Professor of Journalism at USC Annenberg, Robert Kozinets, and Henry Jenkins speak with us about their ongoing book series Frames of Fandom. Both authors explore how they met, their ever-evolving work in fan studies, and what inspired them to create a 16-book series. Both scholars discuss the complexity of fandom as it intersects with consumer culture and subcultures. They even ask if fandom itself can be considered a subculture or something akin to religion! The conversation ends with a discussion of accessibility to academic texts, their choice of writing personal ethnographies throughout the books, and the future of the book series. Here are some of the references from this episode, for those who want to dig a little deeper: Academic/Educational readings and resources: Amazon LinkNetnography Unlimited Understanding Technoculture using Qualitative Social Media ResearchInfluencers and Creators Business, Culture and PracticeConvergence CultureConvergence Culture ConsortiumTextual Poachers People & Places: Led ZeppelinCamille Bacon-SmithConstance PenleyEric Arthur von HippelRogers Centre DisneylandHaunted MansionJonas BrothersGeorge LucasPop MartJK RowlingDaniel MillerMichael BaxandallAngela McRobbie Media: 2025 MLB World Series 1993 World SeriesCFLMLBSuper Bowl LIXLabubuRedditFacebookStar TrekArticle on toysDark ShadowsUniversal Monster FilmsFamous Monsters of FilmlandMarvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) Article on the comic series1996Space Jam: A New LegacyHarry PotterHBOMagic The GatheringMonster HunterFortniteDragon Ball Ford MustangBlog Guide –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Share your thoughts via Twitter with Henry, Colin and the How Do You Like It So Far? account! You can also email us at howdoyoulikeitsofarpodcast@gmail.com. Music: “In Time” by Dylan Emmett and “Spaceship” by Lesion X. In Time (Instrumental) by Dylan Emmet https://soundcloud.com/dylanemmet Spaceship by Lesion X https://soundcloud.com/lesionxbeats Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0 Free Download / Stream: https://bit.ly/in-time-instrumental Free Download / Stream: https://bit.ly/lesion-x-spaceship Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/AzYoVrMLa1Q ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

In this episode, Bertha Chin— Senior lecturer and the Director of the National University of Singapore’s Communications And New Media program— and Swapnil Rai—Associate Professor Film, Television and Media Associate Professor Communication and Media at the University of Michigan—join us to speak about the global streaming media landscape. From Bollywood to Hollywood, Rai and Chin dissect the complexity of media movements as both parts of cultural imperialism and the widening of fandoms. Both scholars lead us through discussions of the transnational circulations and development of series on streaming platforms, relating them to the wider topic of power relations within globalization. By the end, we are left to examine how we engage with transnational shows, who produces them, and how other countries have interpreted the same show. Is streaming the best way to be exposed to other cultures, or is it trying to mobilize the audiences and resources of other countries? Here are some of the references from this episode, for those who want to dig a little deeper: Academic/Educational readings and resources: Transnational Streaming Television Reshaping Global Flows and PowerNetworked Bollywood How Star Power Globalized Hindi CinemaCrowdfunding the Future Media Industries, Ethics, and Digital SocietyEating Fandom Intersections Between Fans and Food CulturesBollywoodizing Netfix or globalizing Hotstar? The cultural-industrial logics of global streaming platforms in IndiaModi vs. Wild: Celebritized Politics and the Mediations of a Spiritual StrongmanArticle LinkLinkNews LinkPeople & Places: Venice International Film FestivalBerlin International Film FestivalCannes Film FestivalTrader Joe’sTed SarandosReed HastingsLori MorimotoJulia SonnevendMoo DengNarendra ModiBear GryllsVictor OrbanPriyanka ChopraLee Jung-jaeQuentin TarantinoSergio LeoneBong Joon HoDave ChappelleTakashi MiikeMedia: NetflixAmazon VideoDisney+ HotstarK-popThe X-FilesDoctor WhoBBCSalaam NamasteParanormalNarcosbookNetflixGangs of WasseypurGangs of Wasseypur 23%Game of ThronesSquid GamesKPop Demon HuntersShin Ramyun Kpop Demon HuntersBon Appétit, Your MajestyBuffy the Vampire SlayerScooby DooFrankenstein Winter SonataMan vs.WildStar WarsStar TrekMortal KombatThe Acolyte The MechanismGrillo Vs. GrilloPatriot Act with Hasan MinhajmangaTV showMacy's Thanksgiving Day Parade 2025 Universal LanguageSukiyaki Western Django –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Share your thoughts via Twitter with Henry, Colin and the How Do You Like It So Far? account! You can also email us at howdoyoulikeitsofarpodcast@gmail.com. Music: “In Time” by Dylan Emmett and “Spaceship” by Lesion X. In Time (Instrumental) by Dylan Emmet https://soundcloud.com/dylanemmet Spaceship by Lesion X https://soundcloud.com/lesionxbeats Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0 Free Download / Stream: https://bit.ly/in-time-instrumental Free Download / Stream: https://bit.ly/lesion-x-spaceship Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/AzYoVrMLa1Q ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

In this episode, we chat with Ethan Zuckerman— a Public Policy, Communication and Information professor at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst— about his views on the present political climate and major movements occurring in reaction to the Trump administration. From the anti-ICE protests in Minneapolis to memes on the internet to the Boston Massacre, we discuss the various forms of resistance the public can perform in the face of adversity. Zuckerman also delves into the historization of mass movements and how their retellings, or lack thereof, can shape how we perform and learn about resistance. We end by circling back to a discussion of memes and AI as they influence how America views current events. Zuckerman leaves us wondering what America looks like and how the celebrations will roll out as we hit its 250th birthday in 2026. In particular, we explore what monuments and memorials might look like if they emerged bottom-up from the people rather than top-down from government institutions. Here are some of the references from this episode, for those who want to dig a little deeper: Academic/Educational readings and resources: How Right Wing Influencers Used AI Slop to Turn Renee Good Into a MemeGramsci’s Nightmare: AI, Platform Power and the Automation of Cultural HegemonyMistrust Why Losing Faith in Institutions Provides the Tools to Transform ThemDigital Cosmopolitans Why We Think the Internet Connects Us, Why It Doesn't, and How to Rewire It1984Historical Events or Celebrations: America’s 250th bicentennialBoston Tea PartyBoston Massacre1992 Los Angeles riots Rodney King RiotsWatergateLincoln Brigades Kent State shootingsPeople & Places: Alex PrettiRenee GoodRodney KingGeorge FloydGeorge Floyd MemorialEric GarnerAlexander HamiltonAntonio GramsciJill Lapore These TruthsHeather Cox RichardsonStone MountainNational Memorial for Peace and JusticeHarold Innis: Marble vs. PapyrusJames Mitchner on Kent StateMedia: The Night Thoreau Spent in Jail1776HamiltonLinkNews LinkNews linkNews linkNews linkNews link –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Share your thoughts via Twitter with Henry, Colin and the How Do You Like It So Far? account! You can also email us at howdoyoulikeitsofarpodcast@gmail.com. Music: “In Time” by Dylan Emmett and “Spaceship” by Lesion X. In Time (Instrumental) by Dylan Emmet https://soundcloud.com/dylanemmet Spaceship by Lesion X https://soundcloud.com/lesionxbeats Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0 Free Download / Stream: https://bit.ly/in-time-instrumental Free Download / Stream: https://bit.ly/lesion-x-spaceship Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/AzYoVrMLa1Q ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

In this episode, Mathew Klickstein , the host of Comic-Con Begins, and Emily Schindler, Senior Director of Learning and Engagement at the Comic-Con Museum, educate us on the history of and learning opportunities at San Diego Comic-Con. Mathew discusses how Comic-Con formed and why he documents that history in his podcast and his book, See You At San Diego: An Oral History of Comic-Con, Fandom, and the Triumph of Geek Culture. Emily informs us about what is displayed at the Comic-Con Museum and the educational programs she runs. She describes the outreach and collaboration that happens between the museum and institutions around San Diego County. At the heart of this conversation is the formation and nurturing of communities that occur because of Comic-Con. Mathew tackles this as a SDCC historian and Emily as an SDCC educator. By the end of the episode, we ask how the culture and construction of SDCC have changed since its inception. We also question what being part of the Comic-Con means and how it's preserved. Here are some of the references from this episode, for those who want to dig a little deeper: Academic/Educational readings and resources: See You At San Diego: An Oral History of Comic-Con, Fandom, and the Triumph of Geek CultureSlimed! An Oral History of Nickelodeon's Golden AgeDiary of Anne FrankFandom Unbound: Otaku Culture in a Connected WorldConnected Learning InitiativeOnly at Comic-Con Hollywood, Fans, and the Limits of ExclusivityComic-Con KidsComic-Con MuseumLinkSan Diego State University Comic Collection Comic-Con KidsPeople & Places: Barry AlfonsoJack KirbyStan LeeRay BradburyMarc SummersAtrhur Miller Rebecca MillerMartin ScorseseSteven SpielbergGeorge LucasFrancis Ford CoppolaAlfred HitchcockCharlie ChaplinPhil TippettRoger CormanStuds TerkelAlan LomaxCharlie LippencottElizabeth TaylorMizuko ItoErica HalversonCynthia LewisKurt SquireKevin SmithPamela JacksonMorgan SpurlockBalboa ParkDetroit Triple Fan FairLawrence Family Jewish Community CenterCannes Film FestivalSundance Film Festival The Academy MuseumGallifrey OneWonderConMedia: Comic-Con BeginsSega GenesisTurboGrafx-16Neo GeoNickelodeonDouble DareFood NetworkSiriusXMFrench New WaveStar WarsJurassic ParkFantastic FourSpider-ManFunkoKing KongMr. ScorseseApple TVComic-Con: Episode IV - A Fans HopeDoctor WhoBBCDC ComicsMarvelMattelHasbroHanna-BarberaHarry PotterLord of the RingsGodzillaPokemonBeetlejuice Three's CompanyTrue BloodGame of ThronesUnofficial Comic Con Blog –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Share your thoughts via Twitter with Henry, Colin and the How Do You Like It So Far? account! You can also email us at howdoyoulikeitsofarpodcast@gmail.com. Music: “In Time” by Dylan Emmett and “Spaceship” by Lesion X. In Time (Instrumental) by Dylan Emmet https://soundcloud.com/dylanemmet Spaceship by Lesion X https://soundcloud.com/lesionxbeats Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0 Free Download / Stream: https://bit.ly/in-time-instrumental Free Download / Stream: https://bit.ly/lesion-x-spaceship Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/AzYoVrMLa1Q ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

In this episode, we welcome Melanie Kohnen, an Associate Professor of Rhetoric and Media Studies for Lewis & Clark College, and Billy Austin Tringali, an Instruction Librarian at the Indiana University Indianapolis and the founder and Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Anime and Manga Studies (JAMS), to discuss the culture and function of pop-culture conventions (“cons”). Melanie shares her research on the encroaching influence of media companies on spaces such as San Diego Comic-Con, especially as they literally extend their promotions to outside of the convention center. Meanwhile, Billy speaks about his work running the annual JAMS@AX Symposium at Anime Expo and his own research regarding animanga content. This conversation examines the intersection of academia and non-academic spaces, like fan events, and how media businesses build relationships with their audiences. Melanie and Billy explore how both academics and con-goers can experience conventions as fans and build a sense of community at these pop-culture events. They offer various modes of experiencing conventions and ways of accessing fans as part of larger promotional content. From Japan to the US, Billy and Melanie show us that conventions are places of scholarly work, fun, and play! Here are some of the references from this episode, for those who want to dig a little deeper: Academic Readings, Journals, and Resources: Imagined Communities: Reflections on the Origin and Spread of Nationalism“The experience economy of TV promotion at San Diego Comic-Con”“From Comic-Con to Amazon: Fan conventions and digital platforms”Journal of Anime and Manga Studies (JAMS)JAMS@AXMechademiaAnime and Manga StudiesSwarming SDCCManga in LibrarieslinkHenry’s “Performing Our Collective Dreams: The Many Worlds of San Diego Comic-Con”Henry’s Frames of Fandom book seriesPeople and Places: Dr. Suzanne ScottJillian RudesMaria BonnFrenchy LunningMaria K. AlbertoEmilie WaggonerDr Zoe CrombieTheodore GournelosvideoJanine SunWerner HerzogBenedict AndersonRyan MurphyAnime ExpoSan Diego Comic-ConWonder ConDragon ConKingston Public LibraryComiku GirlsAnime BostonlinkvideoPetco Park DashconRose City Comic ConGallifrey OneMagicConMedia: Abbott Elementary SDCC 2025 Abbott Elementary Block Partywebsiteanimecard gameanimeDragon BallTelevision Without PityHowl’s Moving CastleDemon SlayerWalking with DinosaursPeacemakerlinkvideoHBO MaxTubiPluto TVPsychGleeRocky Horror Picture ShowPlaystationMortal Kombat 1The Good PlacevideoSuperstorevideo list]Magic the GatheringAvatar: The Last AirbenderCrunchyrollToho AnimationDelicious in DungeonDungeons and DragonsKimba the White LionYu Yu HakushoHouse of the DragonDr. Who –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Share your thoughts via Twitter with Henry, Colin and the How Do You Like It So Far? account! You can also email us at howdoyoulikeitsofarpodcast@gmail.com. Music: “In Time” by Dylan Emmett and “Spaceship” by Lesion X. In Time (Instrumental) by Dylan Emmet https://soundcloud.com/dylanemmet Spaceship by Lesion X https://soundcloud.com/lesionxbeats Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0 Free Download / Stream: https://bit.ly/in-time-instrumental Free Download / Stream: https://bit.ly/lesion-x-spaceship Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/AzYoVrMLa1Q ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

In this episode, Professor Brian Hu from SDSU helps us tackle the world of Asian and Asian American cinema as they travel throughout various locales. Hu’s position as a film scholar and Artistic Director of the San Diego Asian Film Festival leads us through conversations about how people connect with and discover Asian culture. We touch on how regionality and heritage influence people’s interactions with Asian and Asian American media. We also discuss the shifting definitions of Asian American and how that plays out in AAPI/AANHPI film festival creation. Hu guides us through the process of film curation and circulation at AAPI/AANHPI film festivals. In the end, we ask Hu what to look forward to for the upcoming 2025 SDAFF on November 6-15. Our discussion with Hu leaves us wondering what the future holds for Asian and Asian American media as global industries become more invested in Asian works like K-pop, anime, and Labubus. Here are some of the references from this episode, for those who want to dig a little deeper: Academic Readings: Worldly Desires: Cosmopolitanism and Cinema in Hong Kong and TaiwanIdentities in Motion: Asian American Film and VideoMaking Asian American Film and Video History, Institutions, MovementsDoogie Kameāloha, M.D.: Gen Z to AAPI Direct Marketing and Its Effects on Native Hawaiians (chapter) Pop Cosmopolitanism: Mapping Cultural Flows in an Age of Media Convergence (chapter)Names and Locations: Payal KapadiaAnna May WongNancy KwanLisa LuJames ShigetaPeter X FengJun OkadaJohn WooDante BoscoIngyu OhDaniel Dae KimBruce LeeJackie ChanHayao MiyazakiStudio GhibliSatoshi KonBig BangAng LeeSeafood CityFilm Festivals: San Diego Asian Film FestivalLos Angeles Asian Pacific Film FestivalCineconFestival de CannesBusan Film FestivalGolden Horse Film FestivalSan Francisco Silent Film Festival Berlin Film FestivalMovies, Shows, and Media: A Night of Knowing NothingGodzilla Minus OneUlanHard BoiledFlower Drum SongAll We Imagine As LightNe ZhaNe Zha 2The Untamed Pulp Fiction Chan is MissingButterflyThe DebutUltramanGundam seriesThe Fabulous Filipino BrothersSuperstoreDestroy All MonstersThe MatrixJoy Luck ClubTFCHaikyu!! The Dumpster BattleCrunchyrollCrunchyroll partners with Delta AirlinesJust According to Keikaku memeNarutoanimemangaAnimal Crossing Crazy Rich AsiansSinnersX-FilesMillenium ActressPerfect BlueTokyo GodfathersDemon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Movie - Infinity CastleDemon Slayer Infinity Castle US Box Office KPop Demon HuntersMy Neighbor TotoroThe Boy and the HeronParasiteSquid GamesTikTokCriterion Channel Hong Kong Action ClassicsCriterion Channel Asian American 80’sCriterion Channel Asian American Filmmaking 2000-2009user list of films from collectionTerminatorJames BondDrive My Car –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Share your thoughts via Twitter with Henry, Colin and the How Do You Like It So Far? account! You can also email us at howdoyoulikeitsofarpodcast@gmail.com. Music: “In Time” by Dylan Emmett and “Spaceship” by Lesion X. In Time (Instrumental) by Dylan Emmet https://soundcloud.com/dylanemmet Spaceship by Lesion X https://soundcloud.com/lesionxbeats Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0 Free Download / Stream: https://bit.ly/in-time-instrumental Free Download / Stream: https://bit.ly/lesion-x-spaceship Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/AzYoVrMLa1Q ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

In this episode, we chat with Diana Leon-Boys— Assistant Professor of Media and Cultural Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Department of Communication Arts—about her lifelong work examining the navigation of girlhood through a Latinx lens. Her book Elena, Princesa of the Periphery: Disney’s Flexible Latina Girl extends conversations about minority representation and the complex relationship it has with child development. We host a dialogue between Diana’s research and Henry’s observations about boyhood in his book Where the Wild Things Were: Boyhood and Permissive Parenting in Postwar America. We discuss how both scholars pull from their own personal experiences growing up in America and how they interacted with their childhood media. We explore how the proliferation and production of children's and family media shape ideas of adolescence. Diana and Henry relate this back to their roles as parents within an ever-evolving media landscape where funding for educational children’s content is dwindling. They further discuss how representation within media has changed over time and minority groups’ relation to it. This is where Diana brings in her newer projects about depictions of Quinceañeras and Día de los Muertos in TV and films. We are left to ask what the politics of childhood are and what reforms can be done with current children’s media. Here are some of the references from this episode, for those who want to dig a little deeper: Academic Texts Diana Leon-Boys: Elena, Princesa of the Periphery: Disney’s Flexible Latina Girl Quinceañeras: Latinidades and Girlhood in Popular Culture Henry Jenkins: Where the Wild Things Were: Boyhood and Permissive Parenting in Postwar America The Children’s Culture Reader “Just a Spoonful of Sugar: Permissive Child-Rearing and Walt Disney’s Mary Poppins” “‘You’ve Got to Be Carefully Taught’: The Whiteness of Permissive Culture” MIT Salute to Doctor Seuss Interview about the book Others: Centuries of Childhood: A Social History of Family Life Kids in the Middle: How Children of Immigrants Negotiate Community Interactions for Their Families Latina Teenhood: Intersectionalizing subjectivities in the post-network era. Crafting Public Opinion: The Effectiveness of China’s Media Control Policies under Xi Jinping Made to Play House: Dolls and the Commercialization of American Girlhood, 1830-1930 Advice Books: The Common Sense Book of Baby and Child Care Dare to Discipline People, Places, Toys, and Holidays Philippe Ariès Dr. Vikki Katz Día de los Muertos Quinceañeras Benjamin Spock Margaret Mead Dr. Seuss Fred Rogers Stephanie Pérez Raquel Reyes [American Girl Doll] Samantha Parkington [Doll] Julie Andrews Walt Disney Disneyland and Disney World Paper Dolls FDR Sigmund Freud Shows, Films, and Other Media Pee-wee’s PlayHouse Dennis the Menace [59-63’ show, Comics] Leave It To Beaver The Cosby Show One Piece [Anime, Manga, Live Action] Disney+ Encanto Coco Snow White [Animated, Live Action] Little Mermaid [Animated, Live Action] Chinese State Media sounded like Fox Media Rogue One Sesame Street Gordita Chronicles Baker and the Beauty Bluey Descendants film franchise On My Block Wednesday Mary Poppins Saludos Amigos Harry Potter film series Dora The Explorer The 5000 Fingers of Dr. T. Mad Magazine Classic Illustrated Gabby’s Dollhouse Quinceañeras episodes Super Sweet 16Wizards of Waverly PlaceDora the Explorer News Defunding of PBS Quinceañeras in Protest One Piece Flags in Indonesia –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Share your thoughts via Twitter with Henry, Colin and the How Do You Like It So Far? account! You can also email us at howdoyoulikeitsofarpodcast@gmail.com. Music: “In Time” by Dylan Emmett and “Spaceship” by Lesion X. In Time (Instrumental) by Dylan Emmet https://soundcloud.com/dylanemmet Spaceship by Lesion X https://soundcloud.com/lesionxbeats Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported...

Neta Kligler-Vilenchik— Associate Professor of Communication and Journalism at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem— and Ioana Literat— Associate Professor of Communication, Media, and Learning Technologies Design at Columbia University— discuss their book, Not Your Parents' Politics: Understanding Young People's Political Expression on Social Media. They create a dialogue around the ways young people engage with politics using social media, noting the differences between platforms and regions. Kligler-Vilenchik and Literat tie this into the 2016 and 2024 election cycles, along with international bureaucratic frictions. Both scholars tell us about their growing research on youth cultures’ interactions with politics and how those have shifted over time. They cover how younger people are often involved in politics, whether it be via fandom or other forms of civic imagination. They end by suggesting that these intersections between the younger generations and politics can be optimistically inspiring. Here are some of the references from this episode, for those who want to dig a little deeper: Academic Texts Not Your Parents' Politics: Understanding Young People's Political Expression on Social Media [Oxford, Amazon] By Any Media Necessary The New Youth Activism [NYU Press, Amazon] Fan activism and the Harry Potter Alliance [TWC] The Image War Moves to TikTok Evidence from the May 2021 Round of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict [Taylor & Francis Online] Dynamics of scale shift: Contentious places and hybrid activism on social media [Sage Journal] People Mentioned Joe Rogan Kamala Harris Donald Trump Barrack Obama Hillary Clinton Xi Jinping Nancy Pelosi Alexandra Pelosi David Hogg Lillian (Lilly) Boxman-Shabtai Taylor Swift Keren Tenenboim- Weinblatt TV, Films, and Other Media Captain America [IMDB] Harry Potter [IMDB] Donald Trump Speech LipSync [YouTube link] Extra Fun Tidbits + News Civic Paths [Website Link] Scratch Online Coding Community [MIT Site link] Fandom Forward [Link] Little Pinks [Article Link] South Korea President Removed From Power [Article Link] Romanian TikTok Election Scandal [BBC Link] Teen Activism Against School Shooting After Parkland [PBS Link] Slacktivisim [Article Link] Henry Jenkins on Emma Gonzale’s Jacket and youth activism [Brown Journal of Public Affairs] –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Share your thoughts via Twitter with Henry, Colin and the How Do You Like It So Far? account! You can also email us at howdoyoulikeitsofarpodcast@gmail.com. Music: “In Time” by Dylan Emmett and “Spaceship” by Lesion X. In Time (Instrumental) by Dylan Emmet https://soundcloud.com/dylanemmet Spaceship by Lesion X https://soundcloud.com/lesionxbeats Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0 Free Download / Stream: https://bit.ly/in-time-instrumental Free Download / Stream: https://bit.ly/lesion-x-spaceship Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/AzYoVrMLa1Q ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

In this episode, we welcome Abigail De Kosnik, an Associate Professor and Director of the Berkeley Center for New Media and the founder of Fan Link, and Jinyi Li, the technology chief of Fan Link, to discuss their groundbreaking platform connecting fandoms with education and activism. Abigail shares how Fan Link fosters media, racial, and gender literacy through creative fan-driven projects and real-world action, empowering fans to make a difference. The conversation also examines the differing fandom strategies used by Democrats and Republicans in the recent election. Abigail and Jingyi explore how fan communities can influence political narratives and inspire collective action, offering a unique perspective on the intersection of fandom and politics. Here are some of the references from this episode, for those who want to dig a little deeper: About our guest: Abigail De Kosnik | Research UC Berkeley Abigail De Kosnik Introduces Fanlink - News/Research - Berkeley Center for New Media Fandom + Piracy: Fandom & Race Panel - Events - Berkeley Center for New Media Interesting Facts and Fan Events mentioned: Leslie Grace Says the 'Batgirl' Cancellation Felt 'Like Deflating a Balloon' The 27 Club: A Brief History The School for First Ladies Is Now in Session The Herald on the 2017 Trump Inauguration TV listing as Twilight Zone episode Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping film cast Dragon Con San Diego Comic-Con Japan Expo New York Comic Con Osaka Comic Con Hannibal People mentioned: Braver Angels Congressman Hakeem Jeffries – Proudly Representing the 8th District of New York Bernie Sanders Official Website Stormy Daniels Official Website Academic Essays Mentioned: New Audiences, New Textualities: Anti-Fans and Non-Fans - Jonathan Gray, 2003 Hillary Clinton fans fandom and fan politics in the Philippines, Series, Films, and Podcasts mentioned: When Harry Met Sally… IMDB, “I’ll have what she’s having” [YouTube clip] Groundhog Day IMDB Hannibal on Prime RuPaul’s Drag Race on WOW Presents Plus and Paramount+ The West Wing on Max The Apprentice on Prime Listen to Call Her Daddy on Spotify Watch Friends on IMDb Watch Survivor on CBS, IMDb, and Netflix Watch The Bridge on IMDb and Apple TV Joe Rogan Check out our previous Episode 94: Curious Conversations Across the Divide with Mónica Guzmán –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Share your thoughts via Twitter with Henry, Colin and the How Do You Like It So Far? account! You can also email us at howdoyoulikeitsofarpodcast@gmail.com. Music: “In Time” by Dylan Emmett and “Spaceship” by Lesion X. In Time (Instrumental) by Dylan Emmet https://soundcloud.com/dylanemmet Spaceship by Lesion X https://soundcloud.com/lesionxbeats Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0 Free Download / Stream: https://bit.ly/in-time-instrumental Free Download / Stream: https://bit.ly/lesion-x-spaceship Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/AzYoVrMLa1Q ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

In this episode, Jon Taplin— director Emeritus of the Annenberg Innovation Lab at the University of Southern California—joins us to discuss his early years working with Bob Dylan, to his recent research on tech billionaires' growth in legislative influence. Taplin historicizes the changes in media’s ties to politics between the McCarthy era to the 2024 election cycle. The discussion delves into the power of music to spark political thought and changes in people’s connection to pop culture during difficult times. We ask whether the media landscape has become more nihilistic and if there is room for local community-driven efforts. Taplin leaves us questioning where the relationship between pop culture and politics will go in America, as the system seems to be limiting the powers of creativity and political disobedience. Here are some of the references from this episode, for those who want to dig a little deeper: Academic Texts The End of Reality: How Four Billionaires are Selling a Fantasy Future of the Metaverse, Mars, and Crypto [Amazon] Move Fast and Break Things: How Facebook, Google, and Amazon Cornered Culture and Undermined Democracy [Amazon] The Magic Years: Scenes from a Rock-and-Roll Life [Amazon] People Mentioned Bob Dylan Edward R Murrow Rhiannon Giddens John Perry Barlow Elon Musk Jeff Bezos Peter Thiel Charlie Parker John Birks "Dizzy" Gillespie Paul Butterfield Blues Band Mike Bloomfield Alan Lomax Shows, Films, and Other Media A Complete Unknown IMDB Mean Streets IMDB The Last Waltz IMDB Squid Game watch on Netflix Beast Games watch on Prime Ted Lasso watch on Apple TV+ Schitt’s Creek watch on Double Indemnity IMDB Clipped watch on Hulu Breaking Bad IMDB Mad Men watch on AMC+ Succession watch on Max\The Wire IMDB Homicide: Life on the Street IMDB Hill Street Blues IMDB Matlock (2024) watch on Paramount+ Knives Out IMDB Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery watch on Netflix Columbo IMDB Grand Theft Auto [YouTube Clips of Trailers for GTA 1-6] The Sopranos IMDB Newport Folk Festival of 1965 Bob Dylan Performance [YouTube clip] FanDuel [Website] Potluck [Website] Virginia Public Radio [Website] Extra Fun Tidbits + News What does “kayfabe” mean in wrestling? Criterion Channel “Dangerous Work: Cy Endfield, Film Noir, and the Blacklist” series LA Fire Mutual Aid LA Community Combats Fires Poker Face Is the New Columbo What does culture eats strategy for breakfast mean? Trump vs 60 Minutes Lawsuit and Paramount Merger with Skydance Public Media Defunded –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Share your thoughts via Twitter with Henry, Colin and the How Do You Like It So Far? account! You can also email us at howdoyoulikeitsofarpodcast@gmail.com. Music: “In Time” by Dylan Emmett and “Spaceship” by Lesion X. In Time (Instrumental) by Dylan Emmet https://soundcloud.com/dylanemmet Spaceship by Lesion X https://soundcloud.com/lesionxbeats Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0 Free Download / Stream: https://bit.ly/in-time-instrumental Free Download / Stream: https://bit.ly/lesion-x-spaceship Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/AzYoVrMLa1Q ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

In this episode, Elizabeth Losh, Professor of English and American Studies at William and Mary, joins us to explore the transformative role of digital technology in politics, from past presidents' strategies to the present-day campaigns shaping our future. We dive into Kamala Harris’s first presidential run, examining her use of Instagram Live and how her social media presence has evolved since then. We also discuss her approach to engaging with voters this election cycle in public spaces, creating a dynamic connection between candidate and community. We dissect the phenomenon of the memification in the election cycle, revealing how viral moments can shape narratives and influence public perception. Plus, we look at Minnesota Governor Tim Walz’s savvy social media tactics to galvanize voters. Finally, we ask the question: if Kamala Harris secures the presidency, how can the momentum of youth engagement and enthusiasm cultivated through social media be sustained? Tune in for a thoughtful discussion on the future of political engagement in the digital age! Here are some of the references from this episode, for those who want to dig a little deeper: Selfie Democracy: The New Digital Politics of Disruption and Insurrection by Elizabeth Losh Obama administration’s We The People platform Obama addressing the interest in legalizing marijuana at the first ever White House online town hall “Kamala is Brat” / Coconut tree tiktok Vance’s Epic Egg Fail https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5BWPmIfFKo&t=70s “Eating the dogs” remix from tiktok Tim Walz car repair video clip Jon Lovett on Survivor Kamala Harris is reclaiming what it means to be a "woman in the kitchen" (Salon.com) Taylor Swift’s endorsement of Harris/Walz on Instagram Trump Uses AI for Church Photo https://www.forbes.com/sites/mattnovak/2023/03/23/donald-trump-shares-fake-ai-created-image-of-himself-on-truth-social/ US Representative Mike Garcia https://mikegarcia.house.gov/ –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Share your thoughts via Twitter with Henry, Colin and the How Do You Like It So Far? account! You can also email us at howdoyoulikeitsofarpodcast@gmail.com. Music: “In Time” by Dylan Emmett and “Spaceship” by Lesion X. In Time (Instrumental) by Dylan Emmet https://soundcloud.com/dylanemmet Spaceship by Lesion X https://soundcloud.com/lesionxbeats Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0 Free Download / Stream: https://bit.ly/in-time-instrumental Free Download / Stream: https://bit.ly/lesion-x-spaceship Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/AzYoVrMLa1Q ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

In this episode, Professor and chair of the Communication Studies division at American University’s School of Communication, Aram Sinnreich, and Jesse Gilbert, an interdisciplinary artist working at the intersection of visual art, sound and software design, join us to explore the presence of data in our life and the future of data. The conversation starts with personal experiences at rallies and the challenges of digital activism. The guests reflect on their long-standing collaboration, which began in high school and led to their recent book, The Secret Life of Data. Key themes include data privacy, the ethical implications of technology, and the influence of corporations on our digital lives. We examine the limitations of AI, the psychological impact of surveillance, and the need for technology to reflect societal values. This episode offers concise insights on building a more equitable tech future. A full transcript of this episode will be available soon! Here are some of the references from this episode, for those who want to dig a little deeper: Aram Sinnreich Jesse Gilbert The Algorithmic Mirror: Reflecting data's role in modern life “The Carrier Wave Principle” – International Journal of Communication Health Care Reform Initiative · Clinton Digital Library General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Dexcom Continuous Glucose Monitoring Foucauldian discourse analysis John Henry (folklore) What Did Cambridge Analytica Do During The 2016 Election? Watch Black Mirror on Netflix; IMDb Steve Mann The Truman Show on IMDb Donna Haraway Archives - EERA Blog –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Share your thoughts via Twitter with Henry, Colin and the How Do You Like It So Far? account! You can also email us at howdoyoulikeitsofarpodcast@gmail.com. Music: “In Time” by Dylan Emmett and “Spaceship” by Lesion X. In Time (Instrumental) by Dylan Emmet https://soundcloud.com/dylanemmet Spaceship by Lesion X https://soundcloud.com/lesionxbeats Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0 Free Download / Stream: https://bit.ly/in-time-instrumental Free Download / Stream: https://bit.ly/lesion-x-spaceship Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/AzYoVrMLa1Q ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

In this episode, David Wollinsky, author of The Hivemind Swarmed: Conversations on Gamergate, the Aftermath, and the Quest for a Safer Internet, and Sam Close, Assistant Professor at DePaul University College of Communication, join us to unpack systemic challenges in the video game industry. From gender and racial discrimination to toxic workplace culture, they highlight the need for moral courage, ethical decision-making, and structural changes to foster a more inclusive and equitable environment. The discussion revisits key moments like Gamergate, a flashpoint that exposed deep-seated harassment, and explores movements like the "girls game movement" that sought to empower women in gaming. Despite progress through women-led initiatives and increased awareness, the industry continues to grapple with significant barriers to inclusion and diversity. Here are some of the references from this episode, for those who want to dig a little deeper: The Hivemind Swarmed: Conversations on Gamergate, the Aftermath, and the Quest for a Safer Internet Gamergate - Wikipedia Gamergate | Summary, Facts, & Zoe Quinn | Britannica What Gamergate should have taught us about the 'alt-right' Atari founder Nolan Bushnell on why life is 'a game' Purple Moon What makes a AAA game a AAA game? Party Like It's 1995: The Rise and Fall of the Girl Game The ‘Girl Games’ of the ’90s Were Fun and Feminist The Three Theories of Criminal Justice Conclave on IMDb, official trailer Watch the uncensored moment Will Smith smacks Chris Rock on stage at the Oscars, drops F-bomb Metacritic Books Mentioned: Broad Band: The Untold Story of the Women Who Made the Internet by Claire L. Evans From Barbie to Mortal Kombat: Gender and Computer Games, edited by Justine Cassell and Henry Jenkins Games Mentioned: Hunt The Wumpus Play the original Super Mario Bros Game Online List of LucasArts games Play Monkey Island Collection on Steam The official home for The Legend of Zelda - Home Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge for Nintendo Switch - Nintendo Official Site Sierra - King’s Quest,Sierra - King’s Quest Pong Game Home of the Cyberpunk 2077 universe — games, anime & more baldursgate3.game DOOM Eternal Candy Crush Play Tetris | Free Online Game Maxis Studios – Official Electronic Arts Sites Discover The Last of Us Never Alone –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Share your thoughts via Twitter with Henry, Colin and the How Do You Like It So Far? account! You can also email us at howdoyoulikeitsofarpodcast@gmail.com. Music: “In Time” by Dylan Emmett and “Spaceship” by Lesion X. In Time (Instrumental) by Dylan Emmet https://soundcloud.com/dylanemmet Spaceship by Lesion X https://soundcloud.com/lesionxbeats Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0 Free Download / Stream: https://bit.ly/in-time-instrumental Free Download / Stream: https://bit.ly/lesion-x-spaceship Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/AzYoVrMLa1Q ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

In this episode, professors Colin and Henry, along with T.L. Taylor, Director of the MIT Game Lab, explore the rise of game studies as an academic field. Taylor shares her journey from studying virtual worlds in the 90s to becoming an expert in live streaming and eSports, shedding light on gaming's cultural impact and academic challenges. They delve into the interactive relationship between game designers and players, examining how games reflect socio-technical systems. The conversation also touches on eSports, its growth into a major profession, and the influence of game developers and venture capital. The episode wraps up with a discussion on the broader concept of play, including theme parks and the desire for "re-enchantment" in everyday life, highlighting the intersection of games, play, and self-expression. Here are some of the references from this episode, for those who want to dig a little deeper: Games Mentioned Everquest World of Warcraft I Love Bees The Beast Important Concepts in Games Multi-User Dungeons (MUDs) Massively Multiplayer Online Games (MMOs) Minmaxer T.L. Taylor publications Watch Me Play: Twitch and the Rise of Game Live Streaming Raising the Stakes: E-Sports and the Professionalization of Computer Gaming Play Between Worlds: Exploring Online Game Culture Games Matter (Knight Foundation) Other Research Mentioned Pew research on gaming, 2017 Nancy Baym and Jean Burgess, Twitter: A Biography (hashtags as a user-generated intervention) Alice Marwick (networked harassment) Eric von Hippel (innovation) Jane McGonigal, Why I Love Bees: A Case Study in Collective Intelligence Chris Weaver, ‘Elder Scrolls 6’: How the Series Became a Hit With Elderly Gamers Jean Beaudrillard Bruno Bettelheim Other Mentions Twitch Twitch Top Streamers 2024 Gamergate World Cyber Games USC Esports UC Irvine Esports Sherry Turkle, also see Episode 89: Sherry Turkle on Empathy and the Narratives That Shape Our Lives, and her book Life on the Screen Cory Doctorow Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom ; also check out our previous Episode 45: “Radicalized” with Cory Doctorow Check out our previous Episode 92: Disney Theme Parks with Rebecca Williams and Lauren Sowa This Is What U.S. Presidents Would Look Like With Mullets, According to AI (Newsweek) –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Share your thoughts via Twitter with Henry, Colin and the How Do You Like It So Far? account! You can also email us at howdoyoulikeitsofarpodcast@gmail.com. Music: “In Time” by Dylan Emmett and “Spaceship” by Lesion X. In Time (Instrumental) by Dylan Emmet https://soundcloud.com/dylanemmet Spaceship by Lesion X https://soundcloud.com/lesionxbeats Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0 Free Download / Stream: https://bit.ly/in-time-instrumental Free Download / Stream: https://bit.ly/lesion-x-spaceship Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/AzYoVrMLa1Q ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

In this episode, we chat with Charlie Jenkins, whose lifelong passion for wrestling sparked a remarkable journey into writing. He started writing fan fiction around the age of five, dictating stories for his father to type on the computer. In high school he became an active player and game master in e-wrestling, an online roleplaying game that allowed fans to write their own pro wrestling characters and storylines, and now Charlie has crafted a unique voice in wrestling literature. His novel American Wrestling 1989 fills a niche in wrestling-related fiction, weaving together the complex narratives of individuals in the industry and capturing the vibrant essence of 1980s wrestling beyond traditional sports stories. We explore the emergence of wrestling fiction as a genre, influenced by the mainstream success of wrestling personalities and Charlie’s own experiences working with a small wrestling franchise. The conversation examines how American wrestling shapes cultural narratives and its global representation, alongside the transformative role of WWE and Vince McMahon in the industry's evolution. Here are some of the references from this episode, for those who want to dig a little deeper: Charlie Jenkins’ book: American Wrestling, 1989 buy on Amazon, Audible Clips featured in the episode: The Undertaker Dusty Rhodes Sasha Banks & Bianca Belair Zeb Colter and Jack Swagger address Glenn Beck Wrestlers Mentioned The Undertakerhis instagramHulk HoganDwayne Johnsonhis instagramJohn CenaDave BautistaRick FlairDusty RhodesYokozunaBret HartMick FoleyGorgeous GeorgeAnthony BowensSonya Deville Shayna Baszler Toni StormNyla RoseSonny KissBecky LynchJake HagerCreature From the Black Lagoon (movie) Pee-wee Herman WWF Superstars of Wrestling Young Rock (watch on NBC) Heels (watch on Netflix) GLOW (Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling - watch on Netflix) Masters of the Universe (watch on Netflix) Cirque du Soleil The WWE and AEW Lucha VaVoom de La Liz Wayne Cowan Vince McMahon McMahon Family Ringmaster: Vince McMahon and the Unmaking of America, by Abraham Riesman –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Share your thoughts via Twitter with Henry, Colin and the How Do You Like It So Far? account! You can also email us at howdoyoulikeitsofarpodcast@gmail.com. Music: “In Time” by Dylan Emmett and “Spaceship” by Lesion X. In Time (Instrumental) by Dylan Emmet https://soundcloud.com/dylanemmet Spaceship by Lesion X https://soundcloud.com/lesionxbeats Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0 Free Download / Stream: https://bit.ly/in-time-instrumental Free Download / Stream: https://bit.ly/lesion-x-spaceship Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/AzYoVrMLa1Q ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

In this episode, we take a deep dive into the evolution of food television, from the early days of simple, instructional shows to today's diverse and dynamic culinary landscape. We'll explore how icons like Betty Crocker shaped early cooking programs, empowering women in the kitchen, and how trailblazers like Julia Child, Emeril Lagasse, and Guy Fieri pushed boundaries—changing not just how we cook, but how we see race and gender in food media. We’ll also journey into the origins of Iron Chef, its impact on Asian identity, and how it became a global cultural phenomenon. Plus, we’ll reflect on the genre's transition to streaming, where shows like Chef’s Table have brought a more artistic, inclusive approach to the culinary world. And as food competition shows shift from cutthroat to kind, what does the future hold for food media? Here are some of the references from this episode, for those who want to dig a little deeper: Books by Tasha Oren: Food TV ; Global Asian American Popular Cultures Joyce Chen Eddie Wang David Chang The Evolution of Television Formats MasterChef Junior: Watch on Hulu Project Runway: Watch on Netflix, IMDb Survivor: Watch on CBS Julia Child Julia Child’s The French Chef by Dana Polan The French Chef with Julia Child Smithsonian Air and Space Museum ; Julia Child clip Emeril Lagasse ; Emeril Live clip Iron Chef ; Netflix Trailer Wall Street (1987 film) Hillary Clinton and the Return of the (Unbaked) Cookies - New York Times Hillary Clinton explains "Bake cookies" remark April 1992 - Dailymotion Betty Crocker - history; Betty Crocker on the radio Guy Fieri Food Network Curtis Aiken Mind of a Chef: Watch on Youtube, IMDb Chef’s Table trailer; Watch on Netflix, IMDb Jeff Yang's new book, The Golden Screen William Shatner Hell's Kitchen: Watch on FOX, IMDb Gordon Ramsay on Hot Ones Baking Impossible trailer The Great British Bake Off Bong Appetit: Trailer; Watch on Youtube, IDMb Vanessa Lavorato & Miguel Trinidad (Bong Appetit) - The Smokebox Cooking with Cannabis Bake Squad trailer The Bear trailer: Watch on Hulu, IMDb Simply Sara (YouTube) Check out our previous Episode 61: Broken Bread with Chef Roy Choi and KCET’s Juan Devis –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Share your thoughts via Twitter with Henry, Colin and the How Do You Like It So Far? account! You can also email us at howdoyoulikeitsofarpodcast@gmail.com. Music: “In Time” by Dylan Emmett and “Spaceship” by Lesion X. In Time (Instrumental) by Dylan Emmet https://soundcloud.com/dylanemmet Spaceship by Lesion X https://soundcloud.com/lesionxbeats Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0 Free Download / Stream: https://bit.ly/in-time-instrumental Free Download / Stream: https://bit.ly/lesion-x-spaceship Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/AzYoVrMLa1Q ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

In this episode, we dive into the fascinating journey of Barry, a visionary who started as an aspiring theme park ride designer and evolved into a groundbreaking toy creator and educator. We explore how divergent and convergent thinking shape creativity, and how toys serve as more than just playthings – they're tools for limitless imagination. From Lego’s transformation to society’s expectations on toy use, we challenge the restrictions imposed on children’s creative freedom. Discover how kids naturally hybridize toys like Barbies and action figures, and why the industry’s focus on specialization might be stifling their innovation. We also examine the role of franchising in shaping toy creativity, and dive into the often-overlooked world of industrial design, pondering how media could elevate its visibility. And yes, we even touch on poop technology! Here are some of the references from this episode, for those who want to dig a little deeper: x.com/kudrowitz design.umn.edu/directory/barry-m-kudrowitz Sparking Creativity: How Play and Humor Fuel Innovation and Design MIT East Campus: Building Tradition with an East Campus Roller Coaster David Robert Wallace Nerf Super Soaker Comparative Media Studies Degree Programs MIT Incongruity theory of humor Jake The Dog Adventure Time Handmade Plush Toys (12 inches) The Lego Movie Harry Potter™ Toys and Gifts | Official LEGO® Shop US Rocket Racoon Tinkerer Burn Notice Sherlock Holmes (2009 film) Convergent vs. Divergent Thinking: Finding Balance [2024] • Asana Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking Pretend Play Toys and Play Sets Home | Official LEGO® Shop US The LEGO Movie (theme) Toy Story | Official Disney Site Weird Barbie – Barbie The Movie Soakies The 'Unitasker' Kitchen Gadgets Alton Brown Loves To Loathe Will It Waffle? Top 20 toys What is Incremental Innovation? Furby Tamagotchi MrBeast Lab Collection Flamin' Hot Air Tetris Play Tetris | Free Online Game BlackBerry Project Runway RuPaul's Drag Race RuPaul's Drag Race (@rupaulsdragrace) • Instagram photos and videos Junkyard Wars Scattergories The History of Poop Is Really the History of Technology How your poop can help train AI Erik Erikson Erikson's Stages of Development Squatty Potty Toilets of the World - Harvard Book Store Pooping Rainbow Soft Serve Unicorn squattypotty.com/products/dookie-plush-unicorn?srsltid=AfmBO…DQkq Dude Wipes This Shark Tank winner has a $1 billion plan to replace toilet paper Shark Tank Success: Dude Wipes Flush The Competition TUSHY - The Modern & Sustainable Bidet Company The best bidets of 2024, tested by editors | CNN Underscored PRISTINE Toilet Paper Spray: As Seen on Shark Tank, the More Natural Alternative to Flushable Wet Wipes & Personal Cleansing Wipes, Spray Toilet Paper to Create Flushable Wipe, Original 4oz Toilet Paper Sprays | Biodegradable Flushable Wipes | Pristine Sprays Watch The Great American Baking Show (2023) Online for Free | The Roku Channel | Roku The Great American Baking Show (@thegreatamericanbakingshow) • Instagram photos and videos Great British Bake Off - Homepage Watch The Great British Bake Off Check out our previous episode with Jackson Bird Transmission podcast Share your thoughts via Twitter with Henry, Colin and the How Do You Like It So Far? account! You can also email us at howdoyoulikeitsofarpodcast@gmail.com. Music: “In Time” by Dylan Emmett and “Spaceship” by Lesion X. –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– In Time (Instrumental) by Dylan Emmet https://soundcloud.com/dylanemmet Spaceship by Lesion X https://soundcloud.com/lesionxbeats Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0 Free Download / Stream: https://bit.ly/in-time-instrumental Free Download / Stream: https://bit.ly/lesion-x-spaceship Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/AzYoVrMLa1Q –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Share your thoughts via Twitter with Henry, Colin and the...